Receiving-and-dispatching station

ABSTRACT

The station comprises a loading-and-unloading chamber and an adjoining pipe section, both installed between any adjacent sections of a pipeline, said pipe section being secured on a carriage parallel to another pipe section secured on the same carriage, the length and inside diameter of said second pipe section being practically equal to the length and inside diameter of the first pipe section while the carriage is installed with a provision for reciprocating across the geometrical axes of the pipe sections for placing the latter alternately between the loading-and-unloading chamber and the pipeline sections, coaxially with them, thereby either moving the containers through the loading-and-unloading chamber or stopping them.

United States Patent Alexandrov et al.

[ 51 May 27, 1975 1 1 RECEIVING-AND-DISPATCHING STATION [76] Inventors:Adolf Moritsovich Alexandrov,

Federativny prospekt, 6, korpus 3, kv. 8; Vladimir Efimovich Aglitsky,Zatsepsky val, 6/13, kv. 61, both of Moscow; Dmitry Rudolfovich Gun,Komsomolskaya ulitsa, 7, kv. 29, Ljubertsy, Moskovskaya oblast; IlyaSolomonovich Kantor, Malo-Moskovskaya Ulitsa, 31, kv. 45, Moscow;Avtandil Semenovich Kakhniashvili, ulitsa Eliava 37, kv. 41, Tbilisi;Jury Arnoldovich Topolyansky, Matveevskaya ulitsa, 10 korpus 4, kv. 233,Moscow; lppolit Davidovich Suladze, prospekt Chavchavadze, 11, kv. 41,Tbilisi; Jury Abramovich Tsimbler, Sojuzny prospekt 10, kv. 261, Moscow,all of USSR.

[22] Filed: July 24, 1974 211 App]. No.: 491,517

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 27, 1973 U.S.S.R 1954150[52] US. Cl 243/19; 243/38 [51] Int. Cl. B65g 51/32 [58] Field of Search243/1, 19, 20, 21, 22, 243/23, 24, 29, 30, 31, 38

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 397,354 2/1889 Given 243/223,762,665 10/1973 Alexandrov 243/38 Primary Examiner-Richard A. SchacherAssistant Examiner-James L. Rowland [57] ABSTRACT The station comprisesa loading-and-unloading chamber and an adjoining pipe section, bothinstalled between any adjacent sections of a pipeline, said pipe sectionbeing secured on a carriage parallel to another pipe section secured onthe same carriage, the length and inside diameter of said second pipesection being practically equal to the length and inside diameter of thefirst pipe section while the carriage is installed with a provision forreciprocating across the geometrical axes of the pipe sections forplacing the latter alternately between the loading-and-unloading chamberand the pipeline sections, coaxially with them, thereby either movingthe containers through the loading-andunloading chamber or stoppingthem.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEB HAY 2 7 I975 SHEET PATENTEI] 1AY271975 SHEET RECEIVING-AND-DISPATCHING STATION The present inventionrelates to installations for pneumatic transportation of containerizedcargoes through pipelines and more specifically it relates to thereceiving-and-dispatching stations of these installations.

It is most practicable that the receiving-anddispatching stationrealized according to the present invention should be used in theinstallations for the transportation of heavily-loaded containers in aflow of gas (air) through pipelines with a diameter approaching orexceeding one meter.

Known in the art are the receiving-and-dispatching stations of theinstallations for pneumatic transportation of containerized cargoesthrough pipelines. These receiving-and-dispatching stations comprise aloadingand-unloading chamber with an adjoining pipe section whose insidediameter is equal to that of the pipeline.

Said pipe section accommodates a device for braking the containers andmoving them into the loading-andunloading chamber for loading andunloading. This device is made in the form of a power cylinderaccommodating a plunger with a spring-loaded rod. The free end of therod carries a grip intended for interlocking with the container buffer.Operation of the power cylinder is controlled by a hydraulic accumulatorthrough a system of valves (see, for example, Authors Certificate No.339479, Cl. 865g 51/32, USSR).

A disadvantage of the above-described receivingand-dispatching stationslies in that they can be installed only at the terminal sections of thepipeline and cannot be used along its length.

Also known in the previous art are receiving-anddispatching stations forpneumatic mail used simultaneously as transit stations. These stationscomprise a drum installed between the coaxial sections of the pipelineand carrying alternately-mounted pipe sections and deflecting elements.The pipe sections and the deflecting elements are spaced at the sameangular distances. This drum is installed in a pressuretight casing sothat the axes of the pipe sections are parallel to the geometrical axisof the pipeline (see, for example, German Pat. No. 1,283,157, Cl. 81c,148/01, Federal Republic of Germany).

These stations ensure transit passage of pneumatic mail capsules, theirdispatching and reception by throwing said capsules out of the pipelineinto said pressuretight casing with the aid of the deflecting elementand are not adapted at all for braking and stopping heavily-loadedcontainers whose diameter approaches or exceedss one meter, or for theirloading and unloading without withdrawing them from the pipeline.

An object of the present invention consists in providing such areceiving-and-dispatching station which could be used for stopping andstarting the containers and for their transit passage through theloading-andunloading chamber thus making said station suitable forinstallation along the pipeline between any adjacent sections of saidpipeline.

In accordance with this and other objects we hereby provide areceiving-and-dispatching station of the installation for pneumatictransportation ofv containerized cargoes through a pipeline, comprisinga loadingand-unloading chamber one end of which adjoins the pipelinewhile its other end adjoins the pipe section whose inside diameter isapproximately vthe same as the inside diameter of the pipeline and whichaccommodates a device for braking the containers and moving them intothe loading-and-unloading chamber wherein, according to the invention,the loading-and-unloading chamber and the adjoining pipe section arelocated be- 1 tween any adjacent sections of the pipeline, said pipesection being secured on a carriage parallel to another pipe sectionsecured on the same carriage, the length and the inside diameter of saidpipe section being practically equal to the length and inside diameterof the first pipe section while the carriage is installed with aprovision for reciprocating across the geometrical axes of the pipesections for placing the latter alternately between theloading-and-unloading chamber and the pipe section, coaxially with them,thereby either moving the containers through the loading and-unloadingchamber, or stopping them.

The receiving-and-dispatching station of the installation for pneumatictransportation of containerized cargoes through a pipeline realizedaccording to the present invention can be installed at any point alongthe pipeline between its adjacent sections because it ensures stoppingof the containers for loading or unload- .ing, as well as starting andtransit passage of the containers through the loading-and-unloadingchamber. Besides, this station is simple in design and reliable inservice.

These objects and other advantages of the receivingand-dispatchingstation will become apparent from the following description of anembodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a part of the installation forpneumatic transportation of cargoes with a receiving-and-dispatchingstation according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of a carriage with two parallel sectionsof a pipe, one of which is sectionalized and accomodates a device forbraking the containers according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line lV-IV in FIG. 2, enlarged;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line VV in FIG. 3, enlarged;

FIG. 6 shows the schematic arrangement of the receiving-and-dispatchingstation according to the invention, located on the bypass branch of theinstallation.

The installation for pneumatic transportation of cargoes in containerscomprises a pipeline 1 (FIG. 1) consisting of coaxial pipe sections 2and 3. Located on one end of the section 2 of the pipeline 1 is the mainreceiving-and-dispatching station 4. This station comprises aloading-and-unloading chamber 5 and an adjoining pipe section 6accommodating a device (not shown in the drawing) for braking containersa (FIG. 3) and moving them into the loading-and-unloading chamber 5.

One end of the loading-and-unloading chamber v5 (FIG. 1) adjoins thesection 2 of the pipeline 1 while its them into theloading-and-unloading chamber can be;

constituted by a hydraulic power cylinder with a grip or any otherdevice suitable for the purpose.

The flow of compressed air in the pipeline 1 is ensured by connectingthe receiving-and-dispatching station 4 to an air compressor plant 7.

Installed along the pipeline, between its adjacent sections 2 and 3 isan intermediate receiving-anddispatching station 8. This stationcomprises a loadingand-unloading chamber 9 one end of which adjoins thesection 2 of the pipeline 1. Between the other end of this chamber andthe section 3 of the pipeline 1 there is a carriage 10 to which issecured a pipe section 11 whose inside diameter is approximately thesame as that of the pipeline 1. This pipe section accommodates a device12 (FIG. 2) for braking containers a (FIG. 3) and moving them into theloading-and-unloading chamber 9 (FIG. 1). This pipe section is securedin such a manner that one of its ends adjoins the loadingand-unloadingchamber 9 while the other end adjoins the section 3 of the pipeline 1.Secured on the carriage 10 parallel to this section is another pipesection 13 whose length and inside diameter are practically equal to thelength and inside diameter of the pipe section 11. The carriage 10 isinstalled on rails 14 (FIG. 2) with a provision for reciprocating acrossthe geometrical axes of the pipe sections 11 and 13. These rails arefastened to a base 15. The carriage comprises two pairs of motion wheels16. Each pair of wheels 16 rolling over one rail 14 is mounted on a beam17 of a box cross-section. The wheels 16 are installed in the side wallsof this beam with the aid of axles 18 (FIG. 3). The beams 17 carrybrackets 19 (FIG. 2) provided for fastening the pipe sections 11 and 13.Secured to the lower part of these pipe sections 11 and 13 with the aidof brackets 20 (FIG. 4) at equal distances from the beams 17 is a guide21 whose cross-section is similar to that of the beams 17.

The guide 21 is installed between two pairs of rollers 22 whose axlesare mounted in brackets 23 (FIGS. 3,

v 4) secured on the base 15. The rollers 22 rotate on axles 24 (FIG. 4)vertically installed in the brackets 23. These rollers keep the carriage10 against lateral displacement relative to the direction of itsmovement.

The carriage 10 is moved by a power cylinder 25 (FIGS. 2, 4) which issecured to the base 15 by a shackle 26. The rod 27 of this cylinder isarticulated to a shackle 28 secured on the guide 21.

The device 12 (FIGS. 2, 3) for braking containers a and for theirsubsequent movement into the loadingand-unloading chamber 9 (FIG. 1)comprises a pusher 29 (FIGS. 2, 3) which is capable of moving along thepipe section 11.

The pipe section 11 has a fixed partition 30 inside with a hole for thepassage of the pusher 29, said hole being sealed by a cup 31. The end ofthe pusher 29 is provided with a cup 32 which contacts the insidesurface of the pipe section 11. Secured to the cup 32 are rollers 33whose rolling surface rests on the inside surface of the pipe section 11 and which roll over said surface when the pusher 29 moves to brake thecontainers a and push them into the loading-and-unloading chamber 9(FIG. 1). The cup 32 (FIGS. 2, 3) and the partition 30 form a space 34between the inside surface of the pipe section 11 and the outer surfaceof the pusher 29.

The pusher 29 at the side of the cup 32 accommodates a hydraulic brakecylinder 35 (FIG. 3) whose rod 36 carries a hydraulically-operated grip37 intended for interlocking with the buffer of the container a.

The opposite end of the pusher 29 is mounted with a pumping plant 38powered by an electric motor 39. The pumping plant 38 is connected bypipes (not shown in the drawing) with the hydraulic cylinder 35 andhydraulic grip 37.

For returning the pusher 29 to the initial position, i.e. for pushingthe containers a into the loading-andunloading chamber 9 (FIG. 1), thepumping station 38 has a drive comprising a hydraulic motor 40 (FIG. 5)connected by pipes (not shown in the drawing) with the pumping plant 38,and a drum 41. Said hydraulic motor 40 and drum 41 are interconnected byan overrunning clutch 42. Secured to the drum 41 is one end of a cable43 (FIG. 3) whose other end isfastened to the partition 30 or to anyother point on the pipe section 11 which is immovable relative to thepusher 29.

On the pumping plant 38 are mounted rollers 44 whose rolling surfacerests on the inside surface of the pipe section 11 and which roll oversaid surface when the pusher 29 moves to brake the containers 0 and pushthem into the loading-and-unloading chamber 9 (FIG. 1

Turning of the pusher 29 (FIGS. 2, 3) about its axis is prevented by arod 45 (FIG. 2) passing through the hole in the partition 30; one end ofsaid rod is fastened to the pumping plant 38 and the other one, to thecup 32.

The ends of the pipe sections ll, 13 are provided with movable end seals46 which seal off the joint when said pipe sections are joined with thepipe section 3 of the pipeline 1 and with the chamber 9.

The receiving-and-dispatching station of the installation for pneumatictransportation of containerized cargoes through a pipeline functions asfollows.

For receiving the containers a from the section 2 of the pipeline 1, thecarriage 10 at the receiving-anddispatching station 8 is shifted by thepower cylinder 25 to a position in which the pipe section 11 with thedevice 12 is set coaxially with the section 3 of the pipeline 1 and withthe pipe connection 47 (FIGS. 2, 3) of the loading-and-unloading chamber9. Then the device 12 occupies the foremost position for receiving thecontainers a. The rod 36 of the hydraulic brake cylinder 35 carrying thegrip 37 is also shifted towards the incoming container 0. Upon arrivalof the container a at the station 8, its buffer 48 (FIG. 3) getsinterlocked with the grip 37 after which the hydraulic brake cylinder 35and the counterpressure of air in the space 34 brake the container asmoothly to a complete standstill. During braking of the container a thecable 34 is paid off freely from the drum 41 because the lattercomprises an overrunning clutch 42. After a complete stopping of thecontainer a the hydraulic motor 40 is started and its output shaft isconnected by the overrunning clutch 42 with the drum 41. The cable 43 iswound on the drum 41 thus moving the container a into theloading-andunloading chamber 9. Concurrently with they movement of thepusher 29, the hydraulic brake cylinder 35 moves out the rod 36 whichcarries the grip at the end.

On completion of the load-handling operations in theloading-and-unloading chamber 9, the grip 37 releases the buffer 48 ofthe container a and the pusher 29 and rod 36 move into the pipe section11. Then the .power cylinder 25 moves the carriage 10 to the positionfor starting the container a into the section 3 of the pipeline 1 inwhich position the pipe section 13 is set coaxially with the section 3of the pipeline 1 and with the pipe connection 47 of theloading-and-unloading chamber 9. The same position of the carriage lensures transit passage of the container 0 through thereceiving-and-dispatching station 8 to the next or any otherreceiving-and-dispatching station located along the pipeline 1.

The receiving-and-dispatching station 8 can also be installed on abypass branch 49 (H6. 6) which is connected to the pipeline 1 byswitches 50.

These receiving-and-dispatching stations can be used in the installationfor pneumatic transportation of cargoes both with radial and circularpipelines, also in widely branching systems with loading-and-unloadingchambers located along the pipelines.

What is claimed is:

l. A receiving-and-dispatching station of the installation for pneumatictransportation of containerized cargoes located between any adjacentsections of a pipeline and comprising: a loading-and-unloading chamberone end of which adjoins one of said pipeline sections; a carriageinstalled between the other end of said loading-and-unloading chamberand the other one of said pipeline sections; a pipe section whose insidediameter is approximately the same as the inside diameter of saidpipeline sections and which is secured on said carriage so that one ofits ends adjoins the other end of said loadingand-unloading chamberwhile its other end adjoins the other one of said pipeline sections; adevice for braking the containers and pushing them into saidloading-and-unloading chamber, located in said pipe section; anotherpipe section whose length and inside diameter are practically equal tothe length and inside diameter of said first pipe section and which issecured on said carriage parallel to said first pipe section; a drive ofsaid carriage providing for its reciprocating motion across thegeometrical axes of said pipe sections for placing them alternatelybetween said loadingand-unloading chamber and the other pipeline sectionso that, when said first pipe section is set coaxially with theloading-and-unloading chamber, said containers are stopped and movedinto said loading and unloading chamber while after placing said otherpipe section coaxially with the loading-and-unlo'ading chamber, saidcontainers pass through said loading-and-unloading chamber.

2. A receiving-and-dispatching station of the installation for pneumatictransportation of containerized cargoes located between any adjacentsections of a pipeline and comprising: a loading-and-unloading chamberone end of which adjoins one of said pipeline sections;

a carriage installed between the other end of said loading-and-unloadingchamber and the other one of said pipeline sections; a pipe sectionwhose inside diameter is approximately the same as the inside diameterof said pipeline sections and which is secured on said carriage so thatone of its ends adjoins the other end of said loading-and-unloadingchamber while its other end adjoins the other one of said pipelinesections; a device for braking the containers and pushing them into saidloading-and-unloading chamber, located in said pipe section andcomprising: a pusher installed in said pipe section with a provision formoving along its axis, a hydraulic cylinder installed at one of the endsof said pusher; the rod of said hydraulic cylinder, a grip mounted onthe free end of said rod, a pumping plant mounted on the other side ofsaid pusher and communicating with said hydraulic cylinder and grip, ahydraulic motor mounted on said pumping plant and communicating with it,a drum mounted on said pumping plant, an overrunning clutch connectingsaid hydraulic motor and drum, a cable one end of which is secured onsaid drum and the other, end, on said pipe section; said hydraulicmotor, overruning clutch and drum with the cable constitute the drive ofthe pusher for transferring the containers into saidloading-andunloading chamber; another pipe section whose length andinside diameter are practically equal to the length and inside diameterof said first section and which is secured on said carriage parallel tosaid first pipe section, a drive of said carriageensuring itsreciprocating motion across the geometrical axes of said pipe sectionsfor placing them alternately between said loading-andunloading chamberand the other pipe section so that after placing the first sectioncoaxially with the loadingand-unloading chamber the containers arestopped and then pushed into said loading-and-unloading chamber whileafter placing said other pipe section coaxially with theloading-and-unloading chamber, said containers pass through saidloading-and-unloading chamber.

1. A receiving-and-dispatching station of the installation for pneumatictransportation of containerized cargoes located between any adjacentsections of a pipeline and comprising: a loadingand-unloading chamberone end of which adjoins one of said pipeline sections; a carriageinstalled between the other end of said loading-and-unloading chamberand the other one of said pipeline sections; a pipe section whose insidediameter is approximately the same as the inside diameter of saidpipeline sections and which is secured on said carriage so that one ofits ends adjoins the other end of said loading-and-unloading chamberwhile its other end adjoins the other one of said pipeline sections; adevice for braking the containers and pushing them into saidloading-and-unloading chamber, located in said pipe section; anotherpipe section whose length and inside diameter are practically equal tothe length and inside diameter of said first pipe section and which issecured on said carriage parallel to said first pipe section; a drive ofsaid carriage providing for its reciprocating motion across thegeometrical axes of said pipe sections for placing them alternatelybetween said loadingand-unloading chamber and the other pipeline sectionso that, when said first pipe section is set coaxially with theloadingand-unloading chamber, said containers are stopped and moved intosaid loading and unloading chamber while after placing said other pipesection coaxially with the loading-and-unloading chamber, saidcontainers pass through said loading-and-unloading chamber.
 2. Areceiving-and-dispatching station of the installation for pneumatictransportation of containerized cargoes located between any adjacentsections of a pipeline and comprising: a loading-and-unloading chamberone end of which adjoins one of said pipeline sections; a carriageinstalled between the other end of said loading-and-unloading chamberand the other one of said pipeline sections; a pipe section whose insidediameter is approximately the same as the inside diameter of saidpipeline sections and which is secured on said carriage so that one ofits ends adjoins the other end of said loading-and-unloading chamberwhile its other end adjoins the other one of said pipeline sections; adevice for braking the containers and pushing them into saidloading-and-unloading chamber, located in said pipe section andcomprising: a pusher installed in said pipe section with a provision formoving along its axis, a hydraulic cylinder installed at one of the endsof said pusher; the rod of said hydraulic cylinder, a grip mounted onthe free end of said rod, a pumping plant mounted on the other side ofsaid pusher and communicating with said hydraulic cylinder and grip, ahydraulic motor mounted on said pumping plant and communicating with it,a drum mounted on said pumping plant, an overrunning clutch connectingsaid hydraulic motor and drum, a cable one end of which is secured onsaid drum and the other, end, on said pipe section; said hydraulicmotor, overruning clutch and drum with the cable constitute the drive ofthe pusher for transferring the containers into saidloading-and-unloading chamber; another pipe section whose length andinside diameter are practically equal to the length and inside diameterof said first section and which is secured on said carriage parallel tosaid first pipe section, a drive of said carriage ensuring itsreciprocating motion across the geometrical axes of said pipe sectionsfor placing them alternately between said loading-and-unloading chamberand the other pipe section so that after placing the first sectioncoaxially with the loading-and-unloading chamber the containers arestopped and then pushed into said loading-and-unloading chamber whileafter placing said other pipe section coaxially with theloading-and-unloading chamber, said containers pass through saidloading-and-unloading chamber.